Sunday, November 3, 2013

Week 10 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, BCS Projections

After a week hiatus/vacation in Las Vegas, I am back with
my Week 10 Recap! If not for Virginia Tech’s stunning loss to Duke, my
Cornhuskers laying an egg on the road, and my nemesis Missouri missing a chip
shot, I would have come home way ahead. Anyway, check out my reactions to what
transpired the last couple of weeks:

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Arizona, Ball State, BYU, Notre
Dame, Texas

Dropped from the rankings: Notre Dame (24), BYU (25)

25 (NR). Houston
(7-1) – This offense is for real. They had a bit of a hiccup on a short
week against South Florida, but they got it done. Their stretch run begins now.

24 (NR). Arizona
State (6-2) – When the Sun Devils are at their best, they are maybe the
best team in the division.

23 (21). LSU (7-2)
– IDLE. Next week: at Alabama.

22 (20). Texas
Tech (7-2) – They had a tough loss to an inspired and hard-to-prepare-for
Oklahoma State team. They are still a great offense and one that no one really
wants to face. I can’t wait to see the chess match shootout when the Red
Raiders play Baylor.

21 (23). Michigan
State (8-1) – So, they can lose to Notre Dame and almost shut out Michigan?
They can have no offense and now score 30 per game? This is a team I cannot get
a read on. We will see how they handle the pressure in Nebraska following their
bye next week.

20 (22). Wisconsin
(6-2) – The Badgers look really strong right now. If there was a rematch
with the Buckeyes, my money might be on this team.

19 (19). Oklahoma
(7-1) – IDLE. Next week: at Baylor.

18 (16). UCLA
(6-2) – They appeared to be sleepwalking for part of the game against a
putrid Colorado team. They had better show up in Arizona next week if they want
to win the South.

17 (17). Northern
Illinois (9-0) – They do not have any decent teams left on their schedule.
Jordan Lynch is a freak, though. They are fun to watch.

16 (18). Oklahoma
State (7-1) – They had a big time win in Lubbock. They still control their
own destiny in that strange Big 12.

15 (15). Louisville
(7-1) – IDLE. Next week: at Connecticut.

14 (14). UCF (6-1)
– IDLE. Next week: vs Houston.

13 (13). South
Carolina (7-2) – This team is so confusing. They had another nice win
yesterday and a huge win last week against Missouri after an embarrassing loss
to Tennessee. They are a good team, though…I think?

12 (12). Texas
A&M (7-2) – The Aggies got a mini-bye week with UTEP going to College
Station. They took care of business early.

11 (10). Fresno
State (8-0) – Their defense has been exposed the past few weeks. They have
the offensive talent to score on nearly anyone, but without a solid defense, I
cannot see them actually upsetting anyone.

10 (8). Miami
(7-1) – They performed about as well as could be expected against one of
the true class teams in the nation. It was still disappointing to see how
horribly they handled pressure, though. They will, in all likelihood, get
another shot at the Noles in the ACC Title Game.

9 (11). Missouri
(8-1) – The Tigers had another dominating win over the weekend. Their only
loss was not in regulation. How did this team get so good so fast?

8 (9). Auburn
(8-1) – Not that it really matters (since voters will not move them off the
1-line if they keep winning), but Alabama has got to be the biggest Auburn fans
out there now. Bama has such an easy schedule that they need the Iron Bowl to
mean something. This is a tough-minded and sneaky great team.

7 (7). Clemson
(8-1) – The offense finally opened it up again to show what they are really
capable of. They are absolutely in the driver’s seat to go to a BCS bowl if
they can avoid an upset against in-state rival South Carolina to close the
season.

6 (6). Stanford
(7-1) – IDLE. Next week: vs Oregon.

5 (5). Ohio State
(9-0) – The Buckeyes have stopped playing down to their competition, finally.
They are looking like a team that is good enough to beat an Alabama or Oregon.
They have very few tough games left. They have a tricky rivalry game against a
weaker Michigan squad and potentially a shot at the nation’s best defense
(Sparty) in the B1G Title Game.

4 (3). Baylor (7-0)
– IDLE. Next week: vs Oklahoma.

3 (4). Florida
State (8-0) – They now have perhaps the two most impressive wins of the
season, after hammering unbeaten Clemson and Miami teams. They look like an NFL
team against the ACC. It is such a shame that they, Ohio State, and Baylor will
not have a shot at the BCS Championship. That stupid 4-team “solution” wouldn’t
even work this year. HOLIDAY MADNESS, anyone?

2 (2). Alabama
(8-0) – IDLE. Next week: vs LSU.

1 (1). Oregon
(8-0) – IDLE. Next week: at Stanford.

Top 5 Games
for Next Weekend

5. BYU at
Wisconsin (#20), 12:30PM ESPN – If you like smash-mouth football, then this
is the game of the weekend. The rushing attacks of these two teams are as good
as there is in the country. I love this matchup. And is it just me, or is BYU a
lot better Independent than expected? PREDICTION:
Wisconsin 31-24

4. Houston (#25)
at UCF (#14), 4:00PM ESPN2 – The AAC is going to be entertaining from now
until the end of the season. This is the start of the terrific matchups. PREDICTION: UCF 44-38

3. LSU (#23) at Alabama
(#2), 5:00PM CBS – This is always one of the best games of the year. I have
been calling for this upset for weeks, but now I just cannot go through with
it. It will be a close one, and if there is an SEC team with a shot at taking
down the beast, it is LSU. PREDICTION:
Alabama 31-23

2. Oklahoma (#19)
at Baylor (#4), THURSDAY 4:30PM FS1 – This is going to be the first real
test of how good that Baylor offense is. Oklahoma is not elite, but they are
Oklahoma. This should be quite a show. Thursday is going to be amazing. PREDICTION: Baylor 42-31

1. Oregon (#1) at
Stanford (#6), THURSDAY 6:00PM ESPN – How did the 2nd most
anticipated game of the year (behind Bama-A&M) get stuck on a Thursday
night? This is the one everyone wants to see and the real test for Oregon, if
there is any team that really can test them. PREDICTION: Oregon 38-34

Heisman
Trophy Watch

5. AJ McCarron,
QB, Alabama – At some point, this guy it going to get his due. He is not
Greg McElroy or Jason White or Danny Wuerffel. He is an NFL-level talent and
the reason why his team keeps winning.

4. Jordan Lynch, QB, Northern Illinois – His rushing stats are just
ridiculous. His passing is improving. He is like a better version of 2012 Heisman
finalist Colin Klein, but with speed.

3. Johnny Manziel,
QB, Texas A&M – He just effortlessly dominates games every week. His
stats are even more impressive than his Heisman campaign last year.

2. Jameis Winston,
QB, Florida State – He had some bad decisions and throws for the first time
this year in his rivalry game win over Miami. He responded well and will be in
the spotlight until the 2015 NFL Draft.

1. Marcus Mariota,
QB, Oregon – He is still clearly the best player in the nation. He is
polished and virtually unstoppable. That Stanford game is looming and bigger
than ever.

BCS
Projections

Rose Bowl – Stanford over Ohio State

Orange Bowl – Florida State over UCF

Sugar Bowl – Auburn over Clemson

Fiesta Bowl – Baylor over Fresno State

BCS Championship Game
– Oregon over Alabama

What did you think of the past couple weeks? Did you see the Hail Mary
to end the Nebraska-Northwestern game (video below)? Who would you put in
the BCS Championship Game as of right now? Will any of the top 5 lose? Let me know!

2 comments:

The thing I worry about is after Thursday, Stanford will be a two-loss team, where Miami and Clemson are both still one-loss. If the Noles play Miami in the championship, that will look better than the Ducks playing a two-loss Arizona State in the Pac-12 Championship. I also worry much more about playing Stanford and Arizona State than facing Florida or the ACC Championship. I think in the event of three (or four) undefeateds, the BCS Championship will almost certainly be Alabama and Florida State.

This Michigan State team reminds me of the 2009 Huskers. Their defense is superb and they are only getting better as the season rolls along. The Buckeyes are in trouble.

Meanwhile, Fresno State has a very real 07-Boise-State feeling. I've watched a lot of their games, and last night, they missed like 3-4 4th and shorts, they really should have won by 30+. Would love to see them square off against Baylor, OK State, or Stanford in a BCS game

The thing going for Oregon with Stanford is the build-up. It has been the most hyped of game since the beginning of the year, and the fact that it has the night to itself will only help. And the Ducks are on the road. I am not convinced that Miami is going to win out either. Oregon has the media backing and the toughest conference in the land going for them. They will be #2 if they are unbeaten.

I can see that comparison. I sort of thought this Michigan Stare team is like the Spartans from a couple years ago that won those big games against Wisconsin and company. They ended up with a great bowl win over Georgia in the end. But honestly, I cannot think of any team that is as confusing and explosive defensively as this team. Maybe Rutgers from last year?

Fresno against any of those offenses would be great television. The only thing in their way is a potential rematch with Boise in the MWC Championship, which was an amazing game the first time around. Wouldn't it be funny if Florida State had to play Northern Illinois in the Orange Bowl again? ...not really, but it would be a classic way for the BCS to go to the grave.